Dealing With General Sturgis

"Cahaba. A story of captive boys in blue:"

"...a gentleman from Northern Mississippi who informed me that upon his parents' plantation General Sturgis passed the night previous to the battle, making his headquarters in his father's house. He
assured me that Sturgis during his stay imbibed very freely of alcoholics and was stupidly drunk therefrom. This, in a measure, would account for his senseless order upon receiving the despatch from General Grierson. Upon receiving the report of Grierson's staff-officer, without heeding the suggestions it contained, Sturgis renewed his orders to Grierson to push forward, but soon afterward was aroused by a messenger from General Grierson, who brought substantially the following :

" I have not the force at my command to advance farther. It is evident that I have met the bulk of Forrest's forces, but I hold a good position, which I think I can hold until you come up with the infantry."

The message did not imply that Sturgis should use more than ordinary expedition, but upon receiving it the drunken, frenzied commander ordered his infantry to go upon the " double-quick " to the front, a distance of not less than five miles! It should be remembered that the weather was intensely hot, sultry, oppressive; that the road led through a heavy growth of timber; that the men were marching with heavy loads musket, cartridge-box, forty rounds of ammunition, canteen, haversack, and knapsack but they were men who had been seasoned by many a hard campaign, and had never received an order but to obey it. (Source)